Andrea was backed against the wall with Antonio trapping her with both his hands blocking her from the sides. She was absolutely flushed and even cuter than usual. In no time, their faces were barely an inch away. Andrea's mind was a mess. She was being towered by a muscular dominating man. She could barely focus on anything other than the hazel brown eyes staring down at her so intensely with an expression she couldn't read. His hot pink sumptuous lips tensed her up even more as the slightest move could whined up in a kiss.
Antonio, who only intended to tease Andrea, found himself unable to move away. Up close, Andrea was indeed truly breathtaking. Her glossy pouty lips only made it harder, working like a magnet pulling him closer. Just when their lips were sure to meet, Andrea snapped out of her daze. She shut her eyes and turned her face.
"I-I believe you were making a p-point," Andrea stuttered.
Antonio was stunned. Her unpredicted move snapped him out of his daze. He was intrigued at how she managed to avoid him, even when he couldn't. He couldn't believe there was actually a woman who could resist him. 'This girl? She commands so much attention with a mere glance yet she repels it? Well, I like a good challenge,' he thought with a devious smirk.
Andrea, seeing that Antonio was still not moving away, swiftly slid out from under his arm and released a breath she had no idea she had been holding back. 'That was so close Andrea. You have to keep your act together. You can't afford to lose your composure in front of this narcissist, much less your first kiss,' she thought, calming herself as she moved behind him. "What's your point?" she said with her arms folded on her chest.
Antonio turned around and was amused to see her looking so composed. "Why are you avoiding the cameras?"
"I fail to see how that is any of your business Antonio," she said nonchalantly.
"In a way it actually is because I intended to announce that it was a partnership between us..."
"Partnership? This is no partnership. I didn't agree to..."
"Would you calm down and quit interrupting. This would help your online shop ProPay and increase your influence on social media."
"Antonio, I'm not dumb. You don't like me and you intended to punish me. Now all of a sudden, you are interested in helping me? Tell me the real reason why you want me to work for you?"
"I know a good deal when I see one and I sniff out potential and opportunities like a shark does with blood Andrea. I didn't become so wealthy out of thin air," he said with a lifted brow, emitting an aura of confidence.
"You grew up in a rich home. What do you mean by where did the wealth come from?" she said rolling her eyes.
"I had one construction company to my name. If I had no potential, I wouldn't own over 20 businesses with branches all over the world. Now, you were saying?"
Andrea was stunned. She knew he was a narcissist but he surely didn't look like he was bragging with his nonchalant expression. "That still doesn't ease me up to willfully run into the lion's den..."
"At this point, it's either you agree to a truce with the lion and help yourselves out or disagree and be eaten alive little kitten. It's either a long term uncertain death or an instant one."
"An instant death would save me from constant fear of dying sooner or later," she said with a shrug.
"This sounds like a dare if you ask me," he said with a devious look as he started to walk towards her in a slow pace.
"No one asked you," she said sharply, moving back with his pace, a hint of fear could almost be noticed in her voice.
"Your choice is clear then. I'll send you the contracts..."
"Contracts? What contracts?" she asked, interrupting him. There had only been a contract discussed; a contract for employment.
"A contract for employment and for partnership with ProPay. Don't even think of interrupting me," he said sharply, stopping her from releasing the words she opened her mouth in an attempt to say. "My next actions will depend on what you do with them. I suggest you think carefully about that, he said and started off away.
Andrea held his hand in an attempt to stop him, which took him by surprise. "Are you threatening me Antonio?"
He turned around with a clearly deceitful smirk. Just when she was about to let go off his hand. He held hers firmly and pulled her to himself swiftly, holding her chin softly. "The truth scares you, huh?"
Her heart was racing when her body suddenly collided with his but his words knocked her back to reality. She immediately freed her hand from his grip and pushed her face closer causing him to reflexively jolt his head back.
"So much for a tough guy," she teased with a satisfied smirk. Her expression suddenly turned cold. "Let's get this straight. I don't appreciate being threatened. I detest your guts and I know for sure that you hate mine passionately. You offering to help me is the oldest trick in the book and I'm not falling for it. Do your absolute worst. At this point, I don't think there's much that can be done to make me hate life even more."
Just before the heat could continue to rise, Mother Tiana walked in. "There you two are. I've been looking for you everywhere," she said shutting the door. She looked at the two and saw a suspicious smile on Andrea's face and a nonchalant expression on Antonio's. "I hope I didn't interrupt anythi..."
"No no not at all. We were heading out actually," she said with a smile.
"Were we? Last I checked, you didn't want to come out," he said bluntly as he turned around to face the old lady.
Noticing the tension building up in the room as Andrea forced herself to not glare at the indifferent Antonio, Tiana changed the topic, "Anyways, could you please follow me. I'd like to show you the nursery."
"Is something wrong?" Andrea asked worriedly, following Tiana and tagging Antonio along.
"Nothing exactly new, except our new family member," she responded while opening the door, revealing a caretaker and a tiny little baby, suspected to be about 2-3 weeks old, in her arms. She handed the baby over to Tiana and left to go get some more milk for the baby. Andrea offered to carry the baby and was permitted to.
"The baby arrived at the door in a basket with a note, like a parcel, two days ago. I wanted you to have a look at the kind of innocent little being you have helped today. Your monetary donations have been quite impeccable and we'll be eternally grateful. That's why I decided, since he has no name, you two could help pick one."
"I appreciate the offer but that is sincerely none of my business. The little miss over here could help you out I'm sure. I should get going now," Antonio said and attempted to step out.
Andrea swiftly used her foot to shut the door, in his face, earning a full-blown glare. She however ignored. "How could you be so rude to turn down such an offer," she said still so focused on entertaining the little baby in her arms. "Don't be so mean," she said indifferently. Tiana, feeling like tension was building, immediately made an excuse, claiming to be going to help the caretaker, and left hastily.
"What now?" he asked.
"Carry the baby," she said and immediately started to fix the baby in his arms, just before he could protest.
"You should get the little creature out of my hands before he dies," Antonio said with an uneasy tone.
"Even you wouldn't be able to do something so heartless," she said taking out her phone from her pocket. She took a picture of them when Antonio was focused on the baby.
Just then, the baby started to wake up with soft sobs. Antonio immediately handed the baby to Andrea and she tried to calm him down. She placed the pacifier in his mouth and continued to sooth him. Antonio was merely staring at them with an expression she couldn't decipher. She asked him to take a picture of them and he did with he phone and without a word, just rolled his eyes.
Immediately he was done, he stood closer to them unconsciously and passed his finger gently on the baby's cheek. Andrea's heart began racing, having him so close but seeing his sweet gesture, her heart melted. He moved his finger to the baby's little fist in awe of how tiny it was. The little one held on to his hand and pushed the pacifier out of his mouth with his little tongue. He opened up his little toothless mouth and attempted to put Antonio's finger in his mouth. Suddenly, Antonio pulled his hand away and the baby began to cry. Andrea put the pacifier back the baby pushed it out and started to cry again.
Suddenly, the caretaker walked in with Tiana, holding a bottle of milk. Andrea took the bottle and started to feed the baby who suddenly calmed down. When she lifted her gaze in search of Antonio, he was already gone.